Our celebrated local correspondent, Shafiq Jamal, is back for 2025 with his annual holiday season wine column.

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We are living in a time when everything is costly––gas, groceries, cost of living, housing affordability and everything in between. But this is also a time when we turn to Labubu dolls, Nespresso capsules and well-priced wines as our “affordable luxuries.”

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Before I go any further, I want to state that I’m eternally grateful that, year after year, I am able to experience this elixir––this living, breathing and ever-evolving liquid…

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Bargains galore

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My apologies that this annual column is arriving later than usual this time around. I’ve been in the midst of moving, which means packing and unpacking has dominated my agenda. In fact, I still haven’t been able to make head or tail of all the boxes––one at a time! With that in mind, though, I have focused on bargain-hunting once again for this year’s article.

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Oh, and for those of you who are new to my column, I focus primarily on big, bold wines usually with alcohol levels at 13.5 percent, 14 percent and up––which means lots of Malbecs, Shirazes, Cab Savs and such. I do not like wines that are more delicate such as Pinot Noirs, Beaujolais and Burgundies. And I don’t do whites or rosés. While my expertise has grown in both of those categories, my preference remains reds.

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Without further ado then, here are my recommendations for wines that you and your lucky gift recipients can savour during the 2025 holiday season. Enjoy! And, of course, do so responsibly.

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France and Australia for starters

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First up, is the absolutely fantastic Côtes du Rhône––Les Grandes Serres Hommage du Rhône, which is available at several BC Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) stores. Dominated by a deep purple colour, it evokes notes of blackberry and raspberry. It has silky tannins and a good finish, with blackcurrant aromas. One of my favourite wines of 2025, it’s just $17.99 plus tax––making it a deal of a bargain! Buy a case or half a case, drink a couple, then lay down the rest for a few years and you will be amply rewarded.

 

Next up, is the Grant Burge Barossa Ink Shiraz. Available at B.C.’s Everything Wine, this is a beaut! Clocking in at 14 percent alcohol and a sticker price of $19.99, you can’t look away from this bold, fruit-driven Shiraz. With a deep, inky purple hue, it delivers intense flavours of ripe blackberry, plum and black cherry. And it’s layered with notes of dark chocolate, mocha and sweet spice. Offering a full-bodied palate with velvety tannins and a finish both bold and lingering, you'll experience multiple layers with this wine. If you and your friends are Shiraz lovers, this is the wine for you!

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More to savour

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Next up is an ever-consistent, budget-friendly Aussie classic: Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet, widely available at BCLDB stores. On sale right now at $17.99 ($2 off), this wine has a strong cassis scent and a rich dark fruit (plum, cherry) flavour––with spice, chocolate notes and a balanced, smooth profile. It’s great to enjoy with steak or BBQ. 

 

According to the notes on Alberta’s BSW Liquor website, this is “A perennial favourite at Penfolds Re-corking Clinics and at auction. Collectors highly value its quality and longevity. Koonunga Hill Seventy Six is a multi-regional South Australian blend of Shiraz and Cabernet, a wine style that has played a pivotal role in Australia’s rich winemaking history.”

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Nuff said! Go and grab as many as you can afford. And then what do you do? Yup, you got it! Drink a few and lay down the rest for aging. I can tell you unreservedly that my patience was fully rewarded when I opened a bottle I had aged for seven years and enjoyed it with a perfectly cooked steak. It was one of those experiences that stick with you, especially if you appreciate both wine and food as much as I do. Furthermore, the company you are with just adds that much more depth!

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Back to France

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On to number four––though please note that I am not recommending these wines in any particular order. This is another one my faves: Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône. And it’s available at one of my all-time favourite local independent wine merchants, Marquis Wines. I have been remiss in not mentioning them in previous years but Jon, John and Robert––I hope this makes up for it!

 

Being a total sucker for Côtes du Rhônes, I find this one to be a bold expression of these wines. Notes of ripe black plum and blackcurrant flavours dominate, layered with black pepper and grilled rosemary. It is creamy with a medium-length finish, solid tannins and a bit of grip. Decant it and let it breathe for a while. Patience is a virtue, especially where wine is concerned.

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Italy beckons

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To round out my five out of five, I accidentally discovered this wine at White Rock Beach this past summer––following a delicious fish and chip meal with two of my brothers from another mother. After our meal, we took a stroll and visited a local independent liquor store, where I came across this wine: Emilia Romagna Sangiovese––Tavernello Rubicone.

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An organic wine––if memory serves, this is the first time I have recommended an organic wine––it comes in a bit lighter at 12 percent, which means it goes against my focus on bolder wines. But it drinks like a hefty wine. And while I hate recommending wines that are not readily available, I’m making an exception here because this is real bargain buy! I bought out the entire stock at Marquis (sorry!), although I do believe they can order it in for you.

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This wine has juicy flavours of ripe cherry and blackberry plus a subtle hint of oak spice. It’s a well-balanced and fresh red wine from Romagna with a good body. And it’s made from one of my all-time favourite grapes: Sangiovese. Trust me, at just $16 a bottle your guests will think they’re imbibing something much pricier.

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Well, that’s it for this year folks. I wish you all a safe, happy, healthy and joyous holiday season and I look forward to talking to many of you in 2026!

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